David Galloway

If your toaster, coffee maker, or other metal-surfaced appliance is a bit grimy from years of being near your range it can be difficult to remove the sticky buildup. One easy way is to use a pinch of cream of tartar, the citric acid in the tartar will help break up the buildup.

Household weblog Tales and Tips from a Real-Life Housewife shares that a pinch of Cream of Tartar on a wet sponge and a minute of scrubbing will remove the buildup.

Cream of Tartar (aka Potassium bitartrate) is a byproduct of making wine and is an ingredient of baking powder and sodium-free salt substitutes. Sold in a jar in the same section as spices, it has many uses including keeping fruit from browning, mixed with lemon juice or vinegar to make a metal-cleaning paste, or even stress ball.